“I read once that there are holes in the universe that swallow all light, all bodies. St. Jerome’s took all the light from my world” (Wagamese ,43)
In this quote, Wagamese uses the knowledge of science to describe Saul’s situation. The hole is a black hole; it has strong gravitational effects that can absorb light. The hole symbolizes the residential school destroying Saul’s life. All the lights, the dreams, the hopes, and all the happiness has been taken away from him; when the darkness comes, no more light leads his way; no more lights bright his face, no more warmth. While comparing Saul’s residential school to a black hole, it helps the reader understand how the residential school takes everything away from him. What this hole swallows is not literally light, as real black holes do, it swallows Saul’s culture, Saul’s language, Saul’s family, Saul’s dreams, and so Saul’s light. The light of his world, is his happiness, all positive things that make him happy are gone now because of residential school.
